CVE-2017-6704 in Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web application in the Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning tool could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to perform arbitrary file downloads that could allow the attacker to read files from the underlying filesystem. More Information: CSCvc90335. Known Affected Releases: 12.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6704 resides within the Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning tool version 12.1, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the web application's file access controls. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters, creating an avenue for authenticated remote attackers to exploit the system's file handling capabilities. The vulnerability manifests through a path traversal attack vector that allows malicious actors to manipulate file download requests and access sensitive files stored on the server's filesystem.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the web application's failure to adequately validate file paths submitted through user requests, enabling attackers to manipulate directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate beyond the intended file access boundaries. This misconfiguration creates a direct pathway for arbitrary file download functionality that should be restricted to authorized users only. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires an authenticated session to exploit, meaning that attackers must first establish valid credentials before attempting to leverage this weakness. The flaw aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access critical system files, configuration data, and potentially sensitive user information stored within the application's filesystem. An authenticated attacker could retrieve database connection details, system configuration files, application source code, and other confidential data that could facilitate further exploitation or compromise of the underlying infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from any location without requiring physical access to the network, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where such tools are commonly deployed. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates opportunities for attackers to escalate their access and potentially move laterally within the network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6704 should focus on immediate patch application from Cisco, as the vendor has released security updates to address this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected system, restrict authentication to trusted networks, and deploy comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect unusual file access patterns. The implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, along with regular security assessments of web applications, can prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and access control mechanisms that can detect and block malicious path traversal attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and adhering to secure coding practices that prevent unauthorized file access through proper validation of user inputs and enforcement of access controls. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1083 File and Directory Discovery, highlighting the need for comprehensive access control measures and monitoring of file system access patterns to prevent unauthorized data extraction.